NOT A PRECEDENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 9

NOT A PRECEDENT

AID TO NEWFOUNDLAND

DOMINION IN DISTRESS

DEBATE, IN COMMONS

United Press Association—By Eleotrlc Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON,* December 13. The Dominions Secretary (Mr. J. H. Thomas), moving the second reading in the House of Commons' of the Bill to carry out the recommendations 'of the Eoyal Commission on Newfoundland, revealed that the Government first examined the question of the sale of .Labrador, but rejected it because nobody would pay the price Newfoundland thought it was worth. It next considered linking Newfoundland with Canada, but Newfoundland was opposed to the plan and Canada was hot enthusiastic. Major C. E. Attlee (Labour) moved the- rejection of the Bill on the ground that it imposed an unjustifiable burden on British taxpayers. Sir Edward Grigg (C.) suggested that during the temporary suspension of the Constitution a couple of repre- | sentatives of Newfoundland should sit in the House of Commons. There was a precedent in the case of Northern Ireland; Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald (Parliament- ■ ary Secretary of the Dominions), reply--1 ing, said that the Government was coming not merely to the rescue of the : bondholders, but of the whole of the ! distressed population, just as it would , have to do in the case of Australia, 1 South Africa, or Canada in similar diffi- ; culties; though this was unlikely to be ■ regarded as a precedent. I . The Bill passed its second reading by 250 votes to! 42..